The Director of Facilities at the Kamloops-Thompson School District says its too soon to say when some of the new K-to-6 Parkcrest Elementary School designs could be released to the public.

However, Art McDonald says now that Station One Architects have been picked to design the school, that work can get underway soon.

“Its something we’ll be talking to them about is getting a more detailed schedule and going through that with them, so at this point, I really wouldn’t want to give out a date until I have better information,” he told NL News.

“Its the first step because now we can start designing the building based on the area that the ministry has given us, the funding, taking into account all of the building codes, all of those things.”

In January, the Ministry of Education announced it would be contributing $34.84-million towards the project while the Kamloops-Thompson School District will be adding $300,000. The City of Kamloops has also committed up to $2.5 million for the additional space required for a larger gym and changeroom facilities for community sporting events.

“The gym for all intents and purposes, normally would be an elementary school sized gym and the city’s contribution has basically upsizing the gym to be more equivalent to a high school sized gym,” McDonald said. “That’s how that rolls in.”

When complete, the new Parkcrest Elementary will have space for 510 students, an increase of 120 students from the 390 student capacity when the school burned down in Sept. 2019.

Construction is expected to start in the summer of 2022, and its expected to be open by spring 2024.